News Summary
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Charleston and surrounding counties, effective until 5:30 p.m. Residents should prepare for gusty winds and potential lightning strikes. Key locations affected include North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and the I-26 corridor. Precautions are advised as small hail and winds up to 60 mph pose risks to nearby communities and highways.
Charleston, SC – The National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 5:04 p.m. on Thursday, which will remain in effect until 5:30 p.m. The alert targets residents in Inland Berkeley, Tidal Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties. Doppler radar has indicated a strong thunderstorm near Magnolia Gardens, moving east at 20 miles per hour.
The severe weather is characterized by gusty winds capable of uprooting trees and sending unsecured objects airborne. Areas expected to be affected include key locations such as North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Ladson, and the I-26/I-526 Interchange. Residents around the Naval Weapons Station Charleston, West Ashley, and Daniel Island should also be on alert. Major highways under potential threat from the storm include:
- I-26 between mile markers 196 and 219
- I-526 between mile markers 12 and 28
The NWS has advised the public to stay informed through NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, television, or local news outlets for updated information regarding the storm. A total of 25 million lightning strikes occur across the United States annually, mainly during the summer months, resulting in approximately 20 fatalities each year. The likelihood of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches, reaching its peak intensity once the storm is overhead.
Current Weather Situation
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. for Charleston County, and until 10 p.m. for Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. These thunderstorms are on a southeastern path moving at 45 miles per hour, featuring wind gusts that may reach up to 60 miles per hour and the possibility of small hail. Radar confirmed severe thunderstorms near Branchville, roughly 13 miles north of Saint George, at 5:25 p.m., moving east at 35 miles per hour. This weather system was projected to impact the I-95 corridor between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with Charleston and southeastern Berkeley Counties expected to feel the storm’s effects between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Weather Alerts and Precautions
The Storm Prediction Center has classified the storm threat for inland areas of South Carolina as a Level 3 out of 5. The Live 5 Weather team has declared a First Alert Weather Day in response to the heightened threat levels. Residents should be aware that the primary hazards from the storm include strong winds and small hail, with the possibility of an isolated tornado.
Hail measuring up to one inch in diameter may be expected, alongside winds strong enough to potentially damage trees and power lines. High-profile vehicles may experience hazardous travel conditions on bridges due to strong winds.
Earlier in the day, at 2:55 p.m., another alert was issued for strong thunderstorms in Dorchester and Charleston Counties until 3:30 p.m. Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Ravenel also moving east at 20 miles per hour at that time. Furthermore, a follow-up weather alert indicated that potential severe weather could impact the Upstate area later that night between 9 p.m. and midnight, warning of similar threats from strong winds and hail, with up to 2-inch diameter hail anticipated in some regions, posing a risk for significant damage.
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Additional Resources
- Live 5 News
- Herald Online
- WVGazette-Mail
- WYFF 4
- Island Packet
- Wikipedia: Thunderstorm
- Google Search: Severe Thunderstorms
- Google Scholar: Thunderstorm Weather Warnings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Thunderstorm
- Google News: Thunderstorm Alerts
